Vehicle brake mechanism



April 23, 1935. v. G. APPLE VEHICLE BRAKE MEcHANIsM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 8. 1929 viva.

April 23, 1935. v. G. APPLE VHICLE BRAKE MECHANISM Filed April 8, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 23, 1,935 1,998,917

y uNn-eofsrerfsf PATENT Vincent G. Apple, Dayton, Ohio, signor toBrendix.Brake 'Company, South Bend, Ind., a 'oorporationo'r Illinois -1i AppnoationApi-ii s, 1929, serial No. 353,281 l v '-14c1ninie. (ci.iss-72)' This invention relates to brakes wherein nonlerging the hubbetween the bearings t increase rotating and rotating friction elements.are the interim' Surface, then uslng'the .extra Spee@ brought intocontact by mechanism operable by thus Created fOr mechanism Which me? beheld rluid under pressure and to associated brake andagainst rotationvby the 11h11-IOiatl'blel Spindle wheelstructure. e and brought intocontact with the interiorsuro An object of thisinvention is tov providen face' of the 4rotatable hub 't0 retard rotaten structure wherein thefriction elements are entheref. f eiosed within e housing capable ofretaining. n Referring to Fis. 1, the non-rotatable `spindle uniformmedium for lubrication between the i0 iS Secured in the-.fend Ofxle tubel? Whieh 1o surfaces of the friction elements andcapable of iS in turnsurrounded by the hub i4 -Oiy annie; l0 excluding dirt and yWater'eventhough the entire the 'DurPeSe 0f Which Will be hereinafter 'dee-fmechanism be immersed therein. d f Selbed! 'Spindlev i0, lube |28 lmidhub .il are Another object is to provide mechanism which hraz'ed.riveted, Weldedor otherwise Secured t0- e. will give a substantiallyuniform braking aci-.ion` gether, and are together non-rotativelysecured 15 during the entire life of the friction elements t0 theVehicleehaSSiS- f lliy e without requiring adjustment and which willSpindlelis of somewhatlarger diameter than maintain suitable spacedrelation'betweenv the the Conventional ytime, hui? i5 l'KiledOU-il et ifrotating `and non-rotating friction elementsl and 20to make 1t lighter.A groove22 is turned when no braking faction isv desired. e in the Outerdiameter, but a relatively thick Well Certain meritorious featuresreside in the proiS left at 24. and en Opening 28' extends lengiih- 20vision of a rotatable brake drum surroundingl WiSe through this Well andinte'the EI'OOVe 22 the non-rotative wheel spindie and eneising. The0111281 'diameter 0f spindle ylll carrierapluaxially movable, axiallyspaced apart brake frierality of integral keys4 28 `similar inappearance tion discs, a pair of flexible axially spaced apart t0 gearteeth (see Fig. 2); and ihe Ollifei'end 'le diaphragms arranged betweensaid discs and rethreaded foi' nuts 3- e f sponsive to fluid pressuretherebetween' to ex- Surrounding Spindle ili'elfe the liliel' TaeeS pandand urge the discs into frictionalengage 32 0f the iwq Spacedepri'hearings 34 With'tWO ment with the inner surfaces of the end walls o1'Washers 36 and a 0011813@y liiei'fweerl-V Washers. the drum to retardits rotation, and to associated 36 have integral keys 40 at theirinner'diameter operating, supporting and other means cooperatland a Series 0fSelneWhBd",` 18'1'gerkeys 428i the 30 ing therewith. e outer diameter.The keyslll aresimilar to the More specic objects will become apparentas teeth of an internal gear 'and t into the SDaeeS the invention isdescribed in detail -andreierbetween keys 28 of spindle I Il (seeFig.2); The ence yis made to the drawings Vshowing my imcollar 38 iso!`somewhat greater width thanthe proved brake embodied in the front andreargroove 22 and surrounds the spindle covering the 35 Y wheels of anautomotive vehicle. '1 groove. The collar has a series of openings 44 Inthe drawings.- extending radially therethrough (see Fig. 3).`

Fig. 1 is a horizontal axial section through Wheninner races r 32,washers 38 and collar 38' mechanism embodying my improved brake as areassembled on spindlev vlfand drawn 'dup applied to -an automotive rearwheel andv axle against shoulder leby nuts 30; pressureti'ght 4:0Amounting of the full' iloating type. joints are made betweenthe severalparts-sothat Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections takenl no nuidentering throughfopening 28 mayesat' `2 2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1 1 capeexceptthrough openings .f The races Fig. 4 is a. horizontal axial sectionthroughl 32, washers 38and collar 38 are also clamped'by mechanismembodying my improved brake as nuts 30 against. rotative movement, andlwash- 45 applied to an automotive front wheel. l ersy 36 Vare further4held against rotation be- In QrdelV t0 illustrate all adaptation Oifnltlcause ofthe keys lllv extendinginto thespaces improved brake to anautomotive vehicle wheel between keys 28 of the spindle'.- i ofsubstantially conventional type with'little de- `Ai; each side fcollar-38,15 ach-cular sheet viation from standardpractice, I employ themetal diaphragm-I8 having circularcorrugations 5 0 much used structurewherein a non-rotatable d8 in the sides,v aplaln rim 58 at the outerdiaxle carries spaced apart anti-friction bearings, ameter anda'plainrim-SZ at'the inne'r'dia'meter. and a rotatable hub mounted onthe-'outside of; The plain rims 52- extend-between the washers thebearings supportstheiwheel, the deviation 38 and the collar, 38 making apressure.' joint 5'5 from standard practice consisting mainly inentherebetween, while the' plain outer rims ,I8 are 55 joined to a ring54 by soldering, welding yor means to make a pressure tight joixittherebe tween. It is obvious that any fluid entering opening 26 will beconilnedto the groove 22, the holes u and the space l56 betweenvdiaphragms 46.

As non-rotating friction elements two discs 5.8 having integral keysV6|) at their inner diameters have free axial movement over the -outervdiameter of washers 36, the keys 60 of the discs vfitting feely into thespacesebetween keys l2 of the washers;

A plurality of tension springs 62 hooked over pins 64 driven into holesin `the edge of discs 58 keep them drawn together in contactwithdiaphrgms 46. A facing 66 of suitable brake lining material may besecured ,todisc 50 preferably by molding it in place. The diaphragms arenot secured to the friction discs but are oatingly mounted between thediscs. In this manner the diaphragms are free to conform toirregularitiesfin brake application which are likely .to be producedafter 'considerable'y wear has taken place.

The enlarged hub 68 which surrounds the non-rotating elements consistsof two main parts 10 and 12 held together by screws 14. 'I'he innerdiameters of hub parts 10 and 12 `are bored `at 16 and 10 to t snuglyover the outer races 80 of lbearings 34. One 'race 6,0 is held againsta. shoulder 62 of hubjpart 12 by a nut 84 anda lock nut 66,V while theother race has free axial movement in the bore 16 of hub part 10 whichpermits a difference in the amount yof axialexpansion in the spindle andthe hub.` Cut away parts of nut 64 and lock nut 06 form a groove forfelt washer 6I.

-nievrrelaavdy thick oui-.er aange sa or hub part 10 carries studs 52and nuts 64 whereby disc wheel 96 is held to the hub. The live axle 9|!vhas an integral clutch plate |00 which has clutch teeth engagingcorresponding clutch teeth in the flange 90 of hub part 10 todrive thehub substantially as in standard practice. A hub cap |02 completes theenclosure. 1

To operate the brake a fluid under pressure is admitted through opening26 into groove 22 and outwardly through openings M into the space 56betweenthe two diaphragms '46. Because of the corrugations 48 the spacebetween the diaphragms is readily increased whereby non-rotatable discs55 are moved axially outward pressing their facings 66 againstthegrotatable surfaces |06 of hub partsy 10 and 12 thereby retardingrotation thereof.

When the pressure on'the operating fluid is relieved springs 62 drawdiscs 58 together and force the fluid from space 56 thus leavingsuitable spaces |06 between surfaces |04 and facings 66 so.that nodragging action results when no retarding force is required; n

Diaphragms 66 are sufficiently flexible to permit much more expansionthan is required to close spaces |06 so that as facings 6 6 wear awayand spaces |06 increase in width it is necessary. only that-the space 56between the diaphragms be increased. By providing control means to.properly restrict dischargeof fluid Vfrom space 56 when -the vbrakes areto be relieved, the spaces |06 may be kept uniform regardless of wear.This yfeature is highly important because ordinary brakes have more orless inaccessible adjusting means which are more or less difficultto'maintain in exact adjustment sincea wearin my improved brake sincethe lubricant required forfthebearingsfalso lubricates thefrictionsurfaces. The materials for the friction surfaces may then beselected to operate with a known degree of lubrication.

Where a mechanically operable emergency or parking .brake is required itmay be had by supporting an external band |06 on a stud ||0 held by armI6, mechanism (not known) being provided to contract the band againstthe outer diameter of hub 66 in the usual manner. Where this arrangementis considered objectionable a transmission parking brake may be usedinstead.

Fig'. 4 shows how the same mechanism shown in-Figsl to 3 may be adaptedl'to the front or swivelingwheel ofa vehicle. In Fig. 4 asolid spindleI2 has the knuckle Ill and steering pin passage H6. The fluid admissionopening Ill extends diagonally through the-spindle to reach the fluiddistributing groove |20. By this'con` struction arelatively smallerspindle and conse-v quently relatively smaller bearings `|22 may beemployed. Inasmuchas parking'brakes are not usually applied to the frontwheels, Fig. 4 shows no provision therefor.

While I have shown an embodiment of my improved brake in a full floatingrear axle and a modification lthereof in a front or swivel wheel, it isobvious that further modifications may be made-to apply it to otherpurposes. For example the removal of drive shaft 96 and of the parkingbrake parts H, |6,|08 and ll0'makes the brake mechanism shown in Fig. 1particularly applicable to trailers where the design of a controliinvolving mechanical connections to the brakes is difficult ofattainment. And while I have illustrated a structure having twonon-rotat-k ing surfaces adapted to' coact with two rotating surfaces toretard movement of the wheel lt is obvious that the number of frictionalsurfaces in engagement may be increased, if desired, by emo movablefriction elements having .rotative bearing` on the shaftadjacenttheaxially movable elements, said shaft having a uid passageway ex-`tending thereinto interiorly of said inner rotatable bearing thereon andterminating in an annular channel interiorly of said diaphragm assem-4bly and openingthereinto through a plurality of radial passageways. y

2. Braking mechanism comprising, in combination, a non-rotative shaft, arelatively large hollow `hubhaving axially spaced rotative bearingsabout the shaft, a hollowexpansible dia-A phragm element surrounding theshaft within the hub, an axially slidable friction element held' on theshaftagainst rotation between each end of the hub and the diaphragmelement, said shaft having a fluid passageway extending thercintointeriorly of said inner rotative bearing thereabout terminating in acircumferential channel about the shaft, said diaphragm element seatedover said channel and provided with a plurality of fluid inlets exposedthereto.

3. Braking mechanism comprising, in combination, a non-rotative shaft, arelatively large hollow hub having axially'spaced end rotative bearingsabout the shaft, a hollow expansible diaphragm element surrounding theshaft within the hub having an inner periphery about the shaft providedwith a radial uid' inlet, an axially slidable Afriction element held onthe shaft against rotation between each end of "the hub and thediaphragm, and said shaft having means including a fluid passagewayextending axially into the shaft interiorly of the rotative bearingthereabout and terminating at said radial fluid inlet of the diaphragmelement for admitting fluid under pressure radially into the diaphragmelement to expand it to urge said non-rotative friction elements axiallyagainst the end walls of the hub to r'tard its rotation, and resilientcontracting means constraining said axially movable friction elements toreturn to their normal position when the fluid pressure within thediaphragm element is'relieved.

4. Braking mechanism comprising, in combination, a non-rotative spindle,a relatively large hollow hub having a rotative bearing in each end wallon the spindle, said spindle having a fluid passageway entering at apoint outside one of the bearings and extending interiorly thereof andterminating at a point between the bearings. land fluid pressureresponsive friction means splined to said spindle within the hubenclosing the outlet of said fluid opening.

5. Enclosed automotive vehicle brakes comprising, in combination, anon-rotative spindle, a relatively large enclosed hubhaving a rotativebearing in each end wall on said spindle, a .vehicle wheel supported onthe hub, an opening in the spindlel entering the spindle at a pointoutside one of the bearings and coming out at a point between thebearings, a pair of diaphragms concentrically surrounding the spindlebetween the bearings within the hub, the space between said diaphragmscommunicating with said opening and having no other outlet, non-rotativeaxially siidable friction elements between said diaphragms and the endwalls of the hub, said elements being responsive to the spreading apartof said diaphragms from pressure therebetween to engage the end walls ofthe hub to retard said Wheel, and a separately operable externalcontracting friction band on the outside of the hub.

6. Brake mechanism comprising, in combinal tion, a non-rotative spindle,a brake drum rotatably surrounding the spindle, said spindle providedwith a fluid opening therethrough terminati'ng within the drum in achannel formed in and encircling the spindle, fluid pressure responsiveretarding means arranged within the drum on opposite sides of saidchannel and opening thereto to be urged outwardly into frictionalcontact with the end walls of the drum.

7. Brake mechanism comprising, in combination, a non-rotative spindleprovided with an annular channel, a pair of bearing surfaceson thespindle arranged upon each side of the channel, a brake drum surroundingthe spindle having end walls rotatablymounted on said bearing surfacesarrangedon opposite sides of .thechanneha fluid pressureresponsive frictional disc supported on each beaxingsurface adjacent to the end wallof the drum vand adapted to be integrally urged axially thereagainst,and means constraining said discs away from theend walls of the drum. Y

8. In combination with a fixed spindle, anv annular collar securedthereto, `spaced apart radial openings through said collar, an annulardiaphragm having the inner circumferences thereof secured to oppositefaces respectively of said collar adjacent the periphery thereof, andmeans for injecting fluid through said radial openingsI retardingengagement and means for injecting fluid ina radial direction into saiddiaphragm at spaced apart intervalsround its inner circumference.

10. Automotive vehicle braking mechanism comprising, in combination, anon-rotative spindie, a pair of kbearings spaced axially along thespindle, a pair of annular plates rotatably supported about the bearingsand joined at their peripheries to form a closed chamber, a vehiclewheel carried by said plates to rotate therewith, and non-rotativefriction elements in the chamber adapted to be urged against the tardthe rotation of the wheel. y

11. Automotive, vehicle braking mechanism comprising, in combination, anon-rotative spindle, a. pair of bearings spaced axially along thespindle, a hollow drum having walls substantially perpendicular to theaxisgof the spindle and contacting the bearings to -berotatablyvsupported thereby, a vehicle wheel carried by said hollow drumto rotate therewith, and friction elements within the hollow drumadapted to be expanded against thewalls ofthe drum whereby the rotationof the wheel is retarded.

12. Vehicle, braking mechanism comprising, in

combination, a non-rotative shaft, a hollow drum rotatably supported bybearings` on said shaft, a 4wheel carried by said hollow drum to rotatetherewith, friction plates axially rvslidable butj non-rotativelyheld bysaid shaftinfsaid hollow drum, an expansible element located'betweensaid friction plates, and means extending through said shaft fortransmitting fluid pressure from outside of the wheel to the interior ofthe expansible ably surrounding the spindle, a pair of axially spacedapart friction discs axially slidably supported on the spindle againstrotation within the platesto ref drum and adapted to be urged apartagainst the end walls of the drum, fluid pressure responsive mechanismsecured to said spindle between said discs but-unsecured to the discs soas to float therebetween, and means for admitting fluid under pressureto said mechanism to urge the discs into frictional engagement with theend walls of ported. on the spindle against rotation within the derpressure to said mechanism to urge the discs drum and adapted to beurged apart against the into 'frictionai engagement with the end wallsof end walls of the drum, ilud pressure responthe drum, andvtensioningmeans connecting the sive mechanism secured to said spindle betweenouter peripheries of the discs for yieidingly draw- 5 said discs butunsecured to the discs so as to ping said discs toward one another.float therebetween, means for admitting fluid unv VINCENT G. APPLE.

